Constrictor



July 2, 1968 I S.G.MARCUM 3,390,680

CONSTRICTOR Filed March 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR S. G. MARC U MBY Wi M ATTORNEY S. G. MARCUM CONSTR I CTOR July 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed March 4, 1966 S. G. MARCUM wfs hwm-k ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,390,680 CONSTRICTOR Samuel G. Marcum, 206 Main St., Irvine, Ky.40336 Filed Mar. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 531,917 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-327) Thisinvention relates to an improved constrictor for medical usages, andmore particularly to a constrictor which is characterized by its abilityto encircle a wide range of sizes of portions of the human body so as toavoid the necessity of having a stock of varied sizes of constrictors athand.

As is known, the most common use of such a device is for distending thesuperficial veins of the body member so that they may be punctured witha needle attached to a syringe, either for the drawing of blood fortesting, or for the introduction of a material into the veins. Onesimple device which formerly was used comprises a rubber tubing adaptedto be tightly wrapped around the body member and tied in place, but dueto certain inherent disadvantages the use of such tubing has beenlargely sup-' planted by constrictors which are more easily emplaced orremoved; as for example, the type of constrictor disclosed in Munz andKelson Patent No. 3,086,529 and employing the conventional Velcromaterial with its coacting pile and hook portions affixed to theelastomer strip.

Despite its advantages, however, a constrictor of the type disclosed insaid patent is essentially limited to use with a body member of a givengeneral size, with the result that the physician is generally requiredto have a stock of finger constrictors, arm constrictors, and thighconstrictors at hand and with the concomitant increase of cost and delayin selecting and using the proper size of article.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved constrictor whichmay be used upon a wide range of sizes of portions of the human body;which is comfortable to the patient; which does not tear apart uponrepeated usage; which may be quickly and easily applied and removed; andwhich exerts an appropriate pressure upon the member encircled thereby.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds and when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the constrictor with its strip of elastomer infully relaxed position.

FIG. .2 is a plan view of the constrictor of FIG. 1 with the strip ofelastomer in stretched position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view to a larger scale of the first tab portion of theconstrictor.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the constrictor in use upon a finger.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the constrictor in use upon an arm, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view to a smaller scale showing the constrictorin use upon a thigh.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongated fiat strip 10 of asuitable elastomer, such as a conventional elastic webbing material, hasattached to its respective ends as by stitching thereto, a first tabmember 11 and a second tab member 12. Various lengths and widths of thestrip may be employed without departing from the invention but by way ofillustration and not of limitation, an overall length of strip about 17inches when fully relaxed and about 31 inches when fully stretched, issatisfactory.

3,390,680 Patented July 2, 1968 As an important feature of theinvention, a plurality of relatively short, flexible, first sleeves asshown at 13, 14, 15 are spaced along the strip in enveloping relationthereto adjacent tab 11, and a plurality of generally similar secondsleeves 16 to 28 are spaced along the strip between the tab 12 andsleeve 15. Each of the second sleeves includes an inner panel 30 ofsuitable smooth material, such as leather, adapted to contact the skinwhen the constrictor is being employed, and an outer panel 31 of Velcrohook material. These panels are joined longitudinally to each otheralong sewn stitches 32, 33 disposed outboard of the strip 10. Adjacentthe transverse mid-line of each sleeve a strong stitch 34 attaches thesleeve to the strip. The lengths of the respective first sleeves and therespective second sleeves preferably are equal.

Each of the first sleeves includes an inner panel 35 of Velcro pilematerial and an outer panel 36 of any suitable flexible material andwhich does not necessarily have to be smooth. These panels likewise arejoined longitudinally to each other along sewn stitches 37, 38 disposedoutboard of the strip. Adjacent their transverse mid-lines these sleeveslikewise employ a strong stitch 39, FIG. 5, to attach the sleeve to thestrip. As will thus be apparent, the elastomer strip 10 is free toundergo stretching and restoring movement within each of the sleeves andsimultaneously to displace the sleeves from and toward each other whileundergoing such movement. Significantly, the entire length of theelastomer strip between adjacent transverse mid lines of the sleeves maypartake of such movement.

The second .tab member 12, which normally is held by one hand during thepositioning of the constrictor about the body member and during thestretching of the strip 10, may comprise a relatively long sleeveforming a longitudinal extension of the elastomer strip and with theextreme end of that strip anchored therein by both transverse andcrisscross stitches as indicated in FIG. 2. By contrast, the first tabmember 11, which is to complete the attachment of the constrictor whenlarger sized portions of the human body are being encircled, is providedwith a laterally extending portion 11A and which preferably extendsabout twice the length of a typical second sleeve. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, the tab 11-11A includes an inner panel 40 of Velcro pile materialand another panel 41 of any suitable flexible material stitched to eachother by peripheral stitches 42, 43, 44 and 45 and by a longitudinalstitch 46. One or more transverse stitches 47, criss-cross stitches 48,as well as stitches 43, 45, and serve to anchor the .tab firmly to thestrip 10, with the result that the tab will not tear from the strip evenafter repeated stretching of the constrictor to its full extent. Theinvention, of course, contemplates the use of equivalent fasteningmeans, such as vulcanizing, adhesives, and the like for attaching thetabs and the central transverse portions of the sleeves to theel'astomeric strip, and therefore, is not to be considered as limited tothe use of the described stitching.

Having thus described one form of constrictor embodying the invention,the practical advantages of the same will be apparent to one skilled inthe art and when considered with respect to FIGS. 7 to 9. If a finger Fas seen in FIG. 7 is to be encircled, the constrictor is emplaced andstretched so that the pile surface, for example, of the sleeve 14, whena medium sized finger is being treated, engages with the hook surface ofthe sleeve 16. Due to the described construction, the strip 10 betweenthe lines of attachment of the respective sleeves can stretch and thusseparate the adjacent sleeves to the necessary extent to permit theengagement of their coacting surfaces.

Similarly, if an arm A (FIG. 8) is to be encircled the constrictor isarranged with the smooth surfaces of the second sleeves against the skinand is pulled taut with the pile surfaces of the first tab 11 and aportion of the firstsleeve 13 in engagement with the hook portions ofone or more second sleeves, for example, sleeves 21 to 24.

When a thigh is to be encircled, a tighter grip of the constrictornormally is required, and as seen in FIG. 9 the first tab 1111Apreferably is canted so that it may grip the hook surfaces of two ormore of the second sleeves. Due to the freedom of movement of theelastomer strip 10 within the first sleeve 13 (FIG. between its stitch39 and the outer end of such sleeve, the strip can be twisted throughany desired angle up to 90 so as to 'bring the major length of the firsttab into operative position with respect to the second sleeves which itis to engage.

In each of the described usages, the physician normally uses both handsin attaching the constrictor, but may release the constrictor merely bya tug on the first tab using one hand.

The planar area of the first tab is substantially greater than theplanar area of the second tab thereby to make grasping the same easierfor both the manual positioning of the constrictor and the later removalof the same :after it has served its intended purpose.

Having thus described and illustrated certain specific embodiments of myinvention, it will be apparent that numerous changes and modificationsmay be made therein and it is intended by the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A constrictor characterized by its ability to encircle a wide rangeof sizes of portions of the human body and comprising, an elongated flatstrip of elastomer having a substantial length when relaxed and asubstantially greater length when fully stretched, first and s condgrasping tabs attached to the respective ends of said strip, a pluralityof relatively short, flexible, flat first sleeves spaced along saidstrip in enveloping relation thereto and adjacent said first tab andanchored to said strip adjacent the transverse mid-lines of said firstsleeves and permitting stretching and restoring movements of said stripwithin said first sleeves between adjacent anchoring lines thereof, aplurality of relatively short, flexible, flat second sleeves spacedalong said strip in enveloping relation thereto between said second taband the nearest of said first sleeves, said second sleeves beinganchored to said strip adjacent to the transverse mid-lines of saidsecond sleeves and permitting stretching and restoring movements of saidstrip within said second sleeves between adjacent anchoring linesthereof, each of said first sleeves having a Velcro pile materialforming one of its outer surfaces, and each of said second sleeveshaving a Velcro hook material forming one of its outer surfaces, theVelcro hook material of said second sleeves being disposed of theopposite side of said strip from the Velcro pile material of said firstsleeves.

2. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein the aggregate length ofsaid second sleeves is substantially greater than the aggregate lengthof said first sleeves and said first tab.

3. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein said first tab includes alaterally extending portion adapted to engage with a selected one ofsaid second sleeves when larger sized portions of the human body are tobe encircled.

4. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said secondsleeves comprises an inner panel of smooth material and an outer panelof Velcro hook material, said panels being aflixed to each otherlongitudinally of said strip and outboard of the edges of said strip.

5. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said firstsleeves comprises an inner panel of Velcro pile material and an outerpanel of smooth material, said panels being atfixed to each otherlongitudinally of said strip and outboard of the edges of said strip.

6. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein the lengths of therespective first and second sleeves are substantially equal.

7. A constrictor as defined in claim 1 wherein the planar area of saidfirst tab is substantially greater than the planar area of said secondtab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,086,529 4/1963 Munz et al.128-327 3,190,444 6/1965 Kelson 206-632 3,255,749 6/1966 Smithers128----169 3,256,882 6/1966 Huber 128165 3,274,616 9/1966 Russo 2165FOREIGN PATENTS 1,263,391 5/1961 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

J. D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONSTRICTOR CHARACTERIZED BY ITS ABILITY TO ENCIRCLE A WIDE RANGEOF SIZES OF PORTIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY AND COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED FLATSTRIP OF ELASTOMER HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH WHEN RELAXED ANDSUBSTANTIALLY GREATER LENGTH WHEN FULLY STRETCHED, FIRST AND SECONDGRASPING TABS ATTACHED TO THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID STRIP, A PLURALITYOF RELATIVELY SHORT, FLEXIBLE, FLAT FIRST SLEEVES SPACED ALONG SAIDSTRIP IN ENVELOPING RELATION THERETO AND ADJACENT SAID FIRST TAB ANDANCHROED TO SAID STRIP ADJACENT THE TRANSVERSE MID-LINES OF SAID FIRSTSLEEVES AND PERMITTING STRETCHING AND RESTORING MOVEMENTS OF SAID STRIPWITHIN SAID FIRST SLEEVES BETWEEN ADJACENT ANCHORING LINES THEREOF, APLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SHORT, FLEXIBLE, FLAT SECOND SLEEVES SPACEDALONG SAID STRIP IN ENVELOPING RELATION THERETO BETWEEN SAID SECOND TABAND THE NEAREST OF SAID FIRST SLEEVES, SAID SECOND SLEEVES BEINGANCHORED TO SAID STRIP ADJACENT TO THE TRANSVERSE MID-LINES OF SAIDSECOND SLEEVES AND PERMITTING STRETCHING AND RESTORING MOVEMENT OF SAIDSTRIP WITHIN SAID SECOND SLEEVES BETWEEN ADJACENT ANCHORING LINESTHEREOF, EACH OF SAID FIRST SLEEVES HAVING A VELCRO PILE MATERIALFORMING ONE OF ITS OUTER SURFACES, AND EACH OF SAID SECOND SLEEVESHAVING A VELCRO HOOK MATERIAL FORMING ONE OF ITS OUTER SURFACES, THEVELCRO HOOK MATERIAL OF SAID SECOND SLEEVES BEING DISPOSED OF THEOPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID STRIP FROM THE VELCRO PILE MATERIAL OF SAID FIRSTSLEEVES.